God’s creation has mesmerized me for as long as I can possibly remember. Bugs (in particular) were an incredible fascination to me. I even wanted to be an entomologist when I grew up. My initial fascination was with caterpillars, lightning bugs, butterflies, and moths (all the fun bugs, lol). So, (years later) when our Pastor made a correlation between our transformation when we come to know Jesus and the transformation of a caterpillar to a butterfly, you can imagine how thrilled I was. Both are total transformations. “And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” 2 Corinthians 3:18.
I remember catching a caterpillar in our yard and my mom helping me put it into a jar. I was only about three at the time. We added the leaves that it ate (and that we found it on) so that it had food and shelter. It had enveloped itself in a chrysalis (fancy word for cocoon 😉 ) within just a few days. I thought that it was dead and cried very hard. But my mom explained what was happening and consoled me.
I almost forgot about him though because it took several weeks for him to emerge from his little cylindrical home. But, when he did emerge, I was ecstatic. To watch that hairy little caterpillar (that I was so incredibly fond of) emerge as a butterfly was the most exciting thing. It was an incredible, and total, transformation.
I soon began to cry again, however… as Mom and I went outside and released my little friend. For years, whenever I saw a monarch butterfly, I thought my little friend had come back to visit me.
The transformation of that butterfly is so much more similar to our spiritual transformation, as followers of Christ, than we even realize.
When a caterpillar begins it’s lifecycle, it is so minute. But, because of it’s voracious appetite, it immediately begins to eat and grow. The comparison of the appetite of a caterpillar to a human is akin to a 7-pound newborn baby eating 1400 pounds of formula. They eat A LOT! Their appetites are insatiable!
That makes me think of how we start out, but not in regard to food… in regard to sin. We start out tiny and with little to no sin. But as we grow, we begin to sin more and more. Eventually, our sin appetite can become insatiable as well. We sin more and more and more. That caterpillar is a slave to his appetite and we are slaves to sin. “Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin” John 8:34.
What happens within the heart of men (as they become followers of Jesus) — and that caterpillar as he begins the transformation into a butterfly — are similar as well.
Through hormones and sheer instinct, that caterpillar embraces the trek toward this transformation and begins to move toward that end. He submits to the changes that are beginning in him and these new urges. And then, he envelopes himself in the chrysalis in which this transformation will become complete.
As sinners, the Holy Spirit moves on our hearts and draws us into a place of submission. In this submission, we begin to recognize that God and His word are truth and that He does want a relationship with us. Then, we submit to those changes that are beginning in us. We begin to explore these new feelings and revelations. And, we embrace the trek toward the transformation of becoming a follower of Jesus Christ. “The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.” 1 Corinthians 2:13.
Within the Chrysalis, the caterpillar becomes a soup of cells. He doesn’t just become a caterpillar with wings. He becomes a completely new creation. His tissue, limbs, organs, digestive system, and even food source are all changed. This is a total transformation.
We too become a new creation. Caterpillars are drawn into chrysalises. Inside that chrysalis, a transformation begins. In a similar way, sinners are drawn in. But we are drawn into a relationship with the Lord — not a chrysalis — and all that we once were is changed. It changes when we repent of our sins and accept Jesus Christ as Lord of our lives. We no longer hunger for sin the way that we once did. We begin to hunger for spiritual things. Our desires for money, success, lust, self-advancement, etc. all dissipate. Spiritually, we are becoming a new creation. Those insatiable cravings for sin are dead. “Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.” Colossians 3:5.
Then, the miracle of all miracles occurs. That furry little caterpillar emerges from his cylindrical home as a beautiful butterfly. No longer is there an insatiable hunger for leaves. Now, it survives on sweet nectar. Beautiful wings emerge on that once furry caterpillar. Those wings will allow him to soar.
And, miracle of miracles… we repent of our sins and accept Jesus as our personal Lord and Savior and we become a new creation. No longer do we have an insatiable hunger for sin. Instead, we are sustained by the sweet nectar of God’s word. We become filled with the Holy Spirit. The old has passed away and the new has come. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” 2 Corinthians 5:17. The total transformation is complete.
And, one day, when Jesus returns, we will have our own wings to fly, soaring to meet our Beautiful Savior in the air. “For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.” 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17.
God designed the total transformation that is a caterpillar to a butterfly. He also (through the blood of His own Son) designed the total transformation that we can undertake.
Has that transformation taken place in you? Have you accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior? If you have, then those around you should see a beautiful new creation. Or are you a butterfly still behaving like a caterpillar?
Those around us should see that total transformation. They should look at us and see a beautiful, spectacular, new creation. Once we have accepted Jesus as our personal Lord and Savior, then those around us should see Him in us.
Father, we praise you for the miraculous transformation of the butterfly and for all of Your beautiful creation. How incredible and captivating. But more than that, we praise You for the miraculous transformation of man that You designed. Through that transformation, we are made a new creation and forgiven of our sins. But we also begin a beautiful relationship with You! Forgive us for not exhibiting Your glory. For not revealing the incredible new creation that You create in us. And for not glorifying You to those around us. Holy Spirit, help us to embrace our new wings and stop crawling around like the furry old caterpillar that we once were.
If you have not yet found your wings or your Savior, please go to our Life Preserver page (https://forgiven-n-loved.com/life-preserver/) and pray the prayer that is outlined there. God wants to begin your beautiful transformation. He wants to take away that hunger for sin that is in us. You were created to soar!
Once you have prayed that prayer, please reach out to me and let me know. I’d love to be in prayer with and for you.
Luv Ya!
